Photographer Simon Dell has a great passion for wild animals and landscapes. On his Facebook page you can admire a lot of wild beings captured in the most adorable appearances ever. Still, the most fascinating of his shoots are a family of mice. And the story behind those adorable pictures is even more fascinating.
In one day, Simon staggered upon some mice in his garden. So instead of banish them, the photographer decided to do something else. He grabbed his tools and build a superbly miniature village for his little guests.
“I was out one day just taking photos of the birds in the garden and having just cut the grass I noticed something moving on the ground,” Simon told Bored Panda. “I pointed my camera at the ground and was shocked but very happy to see a very cute little house mouse standing up just like a meerkat in the fresh cut grass,” he added.
“I knew instantly he was a star and ran back inside to get a couple of peanuts to put down for him. Sitting there, waiting, it was only minutes before he came back out for the treats.”
Scroll down to admire his beautiful work:
First, Dell only wanted to offer some food and a shelter to the little mouse. Then he became even more creative!
“I had a bit of experience taking photos of wildlife and mice as I also had another mouse that used to live in my garden shed and only come out after dark. He was a wood mouse and we named him Stuart.”
“He was once a single mouse but he left at the start of spring 2018, maybe to find a mate. Hoping he comes back this winter and maybe he could get to know the new mice in the garden.”
“I decided to build them a home as I wanted to give them a safe place in the garden and not fall prey to cats or other animals. Also, as I was feeding the mice it was the right thing to do as I would feel it was my fault getting them to come out if they became prey. Being a wildlife photographer, I wanted to create a nice looking habitat for any pictures I would take,” Dell said.
Asked about what feed them, Dell said the food “is usually all natural.” So the mice has a health diet consuming nuts, berries, seeds, sunflowers or walnuts.
“The mice are still here and living a very happy life. It is winter now, so the days are shorter and they come out less often. Once it gets dark, it can be hard to see them. However, I see them come out in the day for food and it is always all gone by the next morning,” Simon also said.
Source: The Photography of Simon Dell | George the Mouse in a log pile house | Bored Panda